Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 24, 2014 by Ma'ayan Dyer
From Ma’ayan Dyer’s (Spring ’12, Spring ’13) blog: Even before the completion of my conversion three years ago, keeping kosher seemed relatively simple and came surprisingly easy. Sure, the BLT was my favorite sandwich once upon a time, and the spectrum of the many delicious treyf Italian meats were a goyish treat that I wouldn’t Continue Reading »
Posted on February 12, 2014 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: וְהַ֨לֻּחֹ֔ת מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה וְהַמִּכְתָּ֗ב מִכְתַּ֤ב אֱלֹהִים֙ ה֔וּא חָר֖וּת עַל־הַלֻּחֹֽת “And the tablets were a work of God; the writing was the writing of God; it was carved on the tablets.” (Exodus 32:16) Moses has smashed the first set of tablets. He has pleaded with God to spare the Jewish people or Continue Reading »
Posted on May 4, 2013 by Laurie Franklin
Don’t count me out. I’m not young. In fact, I am rightfully considered to be among the elders of our community. But I didn’t grow up in yeshivish Judaism, and my knowledge, is how shall we say… Limited by the circumstances of my origin. I’m acutely aware of it here, in Jerusalem, at Pardes. Nonetheless, Continue Reading »
Posted on October 15, 2012 by Shira Bee
Originally posted on my blog: And I’m in Jerusalem. Life is different here. As someone said beautifully in the opening circle of my program, Pardes, I think “I breathe differently here.” The pure age of the structures around me, the intensely spiritual aura that seems to ebb and flow throughout the city during the times Continue Reading »
Posted on March 13, 2012 by David Bogomolny
I spent last Shabbat at Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s moshav near the city of Modi’in, where my grandparents and other close family members live. This Shabbaton was particularly convenient for me because it allowed me to visit my family without worrying about rushing back to J’lem for Shabbat (especially during the winter). It was also quite Continue Reading »